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Employee of the Month - Movie Review

Movie Reviews

Release Date: October 6, 2006
Studio: Lionsgate
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Genre: Comedy
Director: Greg Coolidge
Writers: Don Calame, Chris Conroy, Greg Coolidge
Cast: Dane Cook, Jessica Simpson, Dax Shepard, Andy Dick, Tim Bagley, Brian George, Efren Ramirez, Harland Williams
Synopsis: For years Zack Bradley (Dane Cook) has been working hard at hardly working at the local Super Club. That's until a hottie named Amy (Jessica Simpson) becomes the new cashier. After discovering she's willing to date the next guy to become "Employee of the Month", Zack takes on current titleholder (Dax Shepard) in a super-smackdown to see who will win the honor - and Amy's heart - in this outrageous comedy that proves you can't succeed at life and love till you get your shift together.
The Review: You're Critic for the Evening: M

Dane Cook's first time out as the lead of a movie has been well over due for years, but this week the wait is finally over and I'm here to tell you a few things about it.

First let me take this though back to before filming started, or at least how I imagine it might have gone; Greg Coolidge has gotten the green light to make a movie from his script "Employee of the Month" the first two things he does is sign on Dane Cook and Dax Shepard and all was well as he built a nice cast around those two for joke support. Then some jackass (or jackasses if we are dispensing blame across a multiple target path) at the studio decided that the movie needs some pop tart to headline as the love interest and pushed to get Jessica "Chicken of the Sea" Simpson cast at the hot chick for the boys to swoon over. This is where things got dicey, but thankfully it didn't cause the film to spin out of control just added a little bit of turbulence to the trip. Because I'm betting Amy (Jessica Simpson) had a much bigger part in the film and much of this was shaved down to just the bare minimum. Good job Greg because you managed to pull this movie off despite the handicap placed on you. Of course it helps if you frame every shot possible with Jessica's boobs..kudos to you sir!

The movie has a basic set up and formula; Slacker boy wants pretty girl but has to change himself to win her from the local hotshot. What sets this movie apart is Dane Cook's version of slack and the strange inhabitants of this super store. Many of them have a solid back story and most are not played so of center that they couldn't be real people..except for Jessica Simpson..but only because I'm convinced she's a Cylon agent...then again I'm thinking that about the woman sitting in the cubicle next to me since I just finished Battlestar Galactica season one....or maybe I just need a nap. Moving on..

Dane is one of the few comedians that has been consistently funny and has kept it fairly fresh over the years. As he circled the leading man landing strip of Hollywood he's done a fair amount of cameo type roles and other strange supporting roles over the year looking for this script. While it's not anything break through it does showcase what Dane can do as a funny man and an actor.

Dax on the other hand does bring a very strange style to Vince, Zack's mortal enemy and bulk shopping hero of the people. He's a creepy yet cocky little prick that makes him a hard sell as being the town hot shot. Maybe I didn't understand inner workings of this town but if Vince is the biggest deal in this town the loneliest myspacer could get laid in this berg (did I mention I'm moving?). Dax has some great lines in this movie that I'm sure will be catching on as quotes for the less advanced pop culture kids and his love for 81 Honda's will surely drive up the blue book value in the years to come.

Now back to Jessica Simpson, ok call me crazy but I didn't go into this movie expecting some shocking revelation that she's a great actress. She's not Britney Spears awful or anything but she doesn't bring anything to the character either, she plays herself in all honesty. There's not a moment during the movie where I wasn't totally aware that I'm watching Jessica play Jessica in some alternate reality where she works in a warehouse super store. She might be the love interest but you don't see her nearly as much as you'd think in this movie and when you do hear her she's not really adding much to the story, again I thank you Greg.

The supporting cast in this film really makes up quite a bit of laughs and I'm sure there's going to be a resurgence of the term "home slice" in the next few weeks. All in all this movie hits all the right points and it has a steady stream of laughs in it. It might become one of those comedy favorites you pop in on a rainy day but I doubt it'll be high on the list unless you are just huge fan of Dane's or if you happen to be a Cylon agent...whatever floats your boat baby.
Rating: 2.5 out of 5

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